Hence the morning , was tantalisingly inviting for a stroll. The short and brief songs of the koel's bravely trilling in the withering heat , was today in tune with the quiet and cool weather , long and lilting !
A perfect weather to be out to savour the sights and sounds of early morning and could I let such a golden opportunity ,to slip by?
And there I was, outside the entrance of Balaji temple , satisfied by a fleeting darshan and on my way back home.when a feeble voice saying 'Narayana' caught my attention amidst the milling crowds devotees dressed in their Saturday best and equally milling crowd of beggars [or should I call them 'Alm's takers' like 'home makers' for house wives,]all out , seeking the blessings from god and humans.
A very thin unkempt man sat sandwiched between two parked motorbikes ,with out stretched arms.
I dropped few coins in his palm ,which he greeted with the word 'Narayana'.
As I walked on ,2 middle aged alm's takers decently turned out clanged their stainless steel tumblers at me , which I chose to ignore and thereby invited their wrath.
They called out aloud in a teacher's voice to my retreating back,
''Hey, you are dropping coins to that sod who is going to spend it on 'Sarayam'---arrack
and not to deserving people like us" and added few expletives for effect.
Tempted though I was to get into a wordy duel , I decided against spoiling the unspoilt freshness that still lingered in the air and kept my thoughts to myself.Whilst these' deserving' women were hectoring and letting out a volley of abuses at the sacred precincts the sober, 'drunk' was mumbling and repeating only god's name !
To me only the latter, matters.
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